Head-on collision in Knutsford kills one passenger

Kamloops RCMP are awaiting a driver who remains in critical condition from a deadly car accident to help piece together the events that lead to the crash.

Kamloops RCMP Const. Bernie Ward said an investigation is ongoing into cause of a head-on collision on Highway 5A near the Knutsford Community Centre at around 9:45 a.m. April 4 that killed one person and sent several to hospital.

Two trucks were involved in the crash - one containing an adult male driver as well as three female passengers aged eight to 12 years old, all of which were taken to Royal Inland Hospital and were released. The other vehicle - containing a male driver, female passenger and preschool-aged child - was not so lucky.

"The young child appears injured, the male driver is in critical condition and the female passenger was found to be deceased at scene," Ward said.

RCMP said that while the man remains in critical condition, they only have half the story.

"(RCMP are) still preliminarily trying to determine the exact events and how the accident came to be," Ward said. "Somebody ended up, for some reason, in the wrong lane."

Without the driver, RCMP piece together the incident using evidence gathered from the scene.

"The evidence left behind a scene that tells a story," Ward said. "They're able to measure back and track the events, pre-impact."

Ward said investigators will analyze skid marks on the road and assess the vehicles' final resting places, but he hopes to speak with the driver later this week.

Ward said alcohol has been ruled out as a factor in the crash.

To contact a reporter for this story, email: jwallace@infotelnews.ca or call (250) 319-7494.

Head-on collision in Knutsford kills one passenger

12:49 p.m. April 8, 2013

One person is dead after a head-on collision between two trucks Saturday morning in Knutsford.

RCMP reports are saying a Ford F350 pickup truck carrying three girls aged eight to 12 years old was travelling north on the highway while a Dodge pickup truck, carrying a pre-school aged child, was heading south before the accident.

Six patients were taken to Royal Inland Hospital according to B.C. Ambulance and one person remains in critical condition.

InfoTel awaits RCMP confirmation over which passenger died and whether criminal charges are being recommended.

To contact a reporter for this story, email: jwallace@infotelnews.ca or call (250) 319-7494.

OPINION Editor, This is a busy time of year, but I find it’s also a time of reflection, particularly as January marks the end of my two-year term as Chair and my 10 years serving on the Board of Interior